Basketballers making first CAF nationals appearance
For the first time, 14 Wing Greenwood’s men’s basketball team is making a play for the Canadian Armed Forces national title, representing the Atlantic region at the CAF championships in Petawawa April 30 to May 3.
“This could be the highlight of my basketball career,” says team co-captain Lieutenant Jon Wilson, who has won nationals twice with teams while posted at other bases and competes as a CISM athlete.
“We were so close to winning regionals and going to nationals in 2023, and that set the stage for this year. We’ve been practicing pretty consistently (since winning regionals February 29), and talking about how different a national tournament is – physically, and mentally.”
That focus is covering everything from pace – in a game itself, but also through the nationals’ week schedule; recovery between two games a day through the round robin, and even what – and how much, and when – food to eat.
“We have to prepare to work hard twice a day, from cool down and recovery to eating to getting back up for another game,” Wilson says.
“There has been energy and interest in doing that at every practice. The hunger for nationals is there.”
The team will include an experienced core of 10 members coming out of this year’s regionals. Wilson says, with two CISM-level pick-ups to the Greenwood roster – Lieutenant (Navy) Alex Fox from CFB Halifax and Corporal Joe Kendrick from CDSB Gagetown), “we have a legitimate chance to win.
“We realize this may be the only opportunity to win nationals for Greenwood. We took a team vote on whether or not to sub our players out for any pick-ups – and the team voted to do it.”
On the roster are Lieutenant Jonathon Wilson and co-captain Master Corporal Edrian Vlaar, Corporal Evan Trites, Corporal Wesle Aucoin, Corporal Warren Regier, Corporal Jordon Mayo, Corporal Richard Ronbeck and Sailor Second Class Nicholas Chater; plus the two pick-ups: with two CISM-level pick-ups to the Greenwood roster – Lieutenant (Navy) Alex Fox from CFB Halifax and Corporal Joe Kendrick from CDSB Gagetown. Team coach is Alyssa DeAdder, 14 Wing’s Personnel Support Programs sports coordinator.
Between February and now, original Greenwood roster members staying behind – Aviator Tevon Wilson, Lieutenant Isaiah Chua and Aviator Dave Lubin – have been integral to getting the team prepped, Wilson says.
“We could not have been here without them at regionals, or over the past two months at practices.”
